{"page":"\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/resources-c03aa079.css\" /\u003e\n\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/lp_boclips_stylesheets-517835be.css\" media=\"all\" /\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-title='James Franco premieres \u0026#39;Of Mice and Men\u0026#39; in New York' data-url='/boclips/videos/5c54be5bd8eafeecae13b039' data-video-url='/boclips/videos/5c54be5bd8eafeecae13b039' id='bo_player_modal'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='boclips-resource-page modal-dialog panel-container'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='react-notifications-root'\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-header'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-type'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-regular fa-circle-play'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nVideo\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class='rp-title' id='video-title'\u003e\nJames Franco premieres \u0026#39;Of Mice and Men\u0026#39; in New York\n\u003c/h1\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-actions'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='mr-1'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"btn btn-success\" data-posthog-event=\"Signup: LP Signup Activity\" data-posthog-location=\"body_link_boclips\" data-remote=\"true\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGet Free Access\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e for 10 Days\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e!\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-body'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-info'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Hide resource details' class='rp-hide-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u0026times;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Expand resource details' class='rp-expand-info fai fa-solid fa-up-right-and-down-left-from-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Compress resource details' class='rp-compress-info fai fa-solid fa-down-left-and-up-right-to-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-rating'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='resource-pool'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-label'\u003ePublisher:\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-name'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='text'\u003e\u003ca data-publisher-id=\"30356011\" href=\"/search?publisher_ids%5B%5D=30356011\"\u003eCurated Video\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-description'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='short-description'\u003eJames Franco, along with actors Chris O'Dowd and Leighton Meester stepped onto a Broadway stage for the first time in their careers on Wednesday night (16 APRIL 2014) in New York.The trio star in a revival of John Steinbeck's classic...\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='full-description hide'\u003eJames Franco, along with actors Chris O'Dowd and Leighton Meester stepped onto a Broadway stage for the first time in their careers on Wednesday night (16 APRIL 2014) in New York.\u003cbr/\u003eThe trio star in a revival of John Steinbeck's classic novel, \"Of Mice and Men.\"\u003cbr/\u003eAfter taking their bows on the Longacre Theatre stage, the actors, along with the rest of the cast, headed over to the Plaza Hotel to celebrate.\u003cbr/\u003eFranco was ecstatic.\u003cbr/\u003e\"It's my first time on Broadway but I'm loving it. A lot of my film friends ask, 'What's it like doing it over and over and over again every night?' And all I have to say is that the repetition is made up for by the energy that you get from doing it in front of a live audience. It's like new electricity every night. In some ways it's more exciting than doing a film,\" Franco said.\u003cbr/\u003e\"You depend on your fellow workers in a play in ways that you don't in a movie. So we have become very close and it's a once in a lifetime experience,\" he elaborated.\u003cbr/\u003eSteinbeck's play about friendship and humanity in rural California is a classic of American literature. But that didn't intimidate O'Dowd.\u003cbr/\u003e\"You know there's obviously a lot of baggage that goes with it. But it's kind of other people's baggage. I never seen a production of it. I never saw the film, I don't think, unless I saw a bit of it at school or something. So I don't feel burdened with anybody's expectations, necessarily. But I know that it's more of a problem for other people, or more of a challenge,\" O'Dowd said.\u003cbr/\u003eKnown more for comedies such as \"Bridesmaids\" and \"Friends With Kids,\" O'Dowd plays mentally challenged Lennie. He explained how he tempered his performance.\u003cbr/\u003e\"I tried to not worry about, about really just approaching it very honestly and truthfully and be ready to be gunned down for it. So I made a very strong choice with what his cognitive disability was and kind of  based it on somebody I knew and just thought, 'OK, if I'm specific, then everything else doesn't really matter,\" he said.\u003cbr/\u003eFranco and O'Dowd play two tragic migrant workers trying to make a life during the Depression. Because O'Dowd's Lennie is mentally disabled, Franco's George acts as Lennie's guardian. \u003cbr/\u003eLennie is a mountain of a man but has a hard time remembering things and doesn't know his own strength. \u003cbr/\u003e\"Gossip Girl\" star Meester said she was surprised how she felt at the premiere.\u003cbr/\u003e\"We've been doing it for a month in previews, so I really didn't know what to expect. I was like 'It will just be like every other night, right?' And it was just so magical and everyone was just so excited and I feel that it brought everyone together in a really nice way. Now, we're just excited to be open for everyone to come and see it.\"\u003cbr/\u003eThe newly wed actress also talked about her film which is at this year's Tribeca Film Festival.\u003cbr/\u003e\"I have a movie called, 'Life Partners,' and I'm really excited about it. It's the most fun movie that I've ever worked on. It's adorable, if I do say so myself. It's about two girlfriends, one is kind of a slacker (points to herself) and one has got her life together. And I've just kind of been kicked in the butt to try to get my life together because she's getting married and being a grown-up,\" Meester said.\u003cbr/\u003eWhen asked about making her Broadway debut, making a movie she's proud of, and getting married, Meester simply replied: \"Life is good. Life is great.\"\u003cbr/\u003eAP Entertainment\u003cbr/\u003eNew York, 16 April 2014\u003cbr/\u003e1. Curtain call as Chris O'Dowd and James Franco take their bows\u003cbr/\u003e2. Wide of Chris O'Dowd and James Franco posing for photographers\u003cbr/\u003e3. Medium of Chris O'Dowd and James Franco posing for photographers\u003cbr/\u003e4. SOUNDBITE (English) James Franco/Actor\u003cbr/\u003e\"It's great. It's my first time on Broadway but I'm loving it. A lot of my film friends ask, 'What's it like doing it over and over and over again every night?' And all I have to say is that the repetition is made up for by the energy that you get from doing it in front of a live audience. It's like new electricity every night. In some ways it's more exciting than doing a film.\"\u003cbr/\u003e5. Medium of James Franco, pull out to wide\u003cbr/\u003e6. SOUNDBITE (English) James Franco/Actor\u003cbr/\u003e\"It's one of the best experiences in my career. I'm working with a person that I consider to be the best theater director, Anna Shapiro, and an incredible cast. You depend on your fellow workers in a play in ways that you don't in a movie, so we have become very close and it's a once in a lifetime experience.\" \u003cbr/\u003e7. James Franco, Anna D. Shapiro, and Chris O'Dowd pose for photographers, Shapiro and O'Dowd break away\u003cbr/\u003e8. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris O'Dowd/Actor\u003cbr/\u003e\"You know there's obviously a lot of baggage that goes with it. But it's kind of other people's baggage. I never seen a production of it. I never saw the film, I don't think, unless I saw a bit of it at school or something. So I don't feel burdened with anybody's expectations, necessarily. But I know that it's more of a problem for other people, or more of a challenge.\"\u003cbr/\u003e9. Tight of Chris O'Dowd and James Franco\u003cbr/\u003e10. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris O'Dowd/Actor\u003cbr/\u003e\"I tried to not worry about, about really just approaching it very honestly and truthfully and be ready to be gunned down for it. So I made a very strong choice with what his cognitive disability was and kind of  based it on somebody I knew and just thought, 'OK, if I'm specific, then everything else doesn't really matter.\"\u003cbr/\u003e11. Medium of Chris O'Dowd, Leighton Meester, and James Franco\u003cbr/\u003e12. Wide of Leighton Meester talking to reporter\u003cbr/\u003e13. SOUNDBITE (English) Leighton Meester/Actress\u003cbr/\u003e\"We've been doing it for a month in previews, so I really didn't know what to expect. I was like 'It will just be like every other night, right?' And it was just so magical and everyone was just so excited and I feel that it brought everyone together in a really nice way. Now, we're just excited to be open for everyone to come and see it.\"\u003cbr/\u003e14. Wide of Leighton Meester talking to reporter\u003cbr/\u003e15. SOUNDBITE (English) Leighton Meester/Actress\u003cbr/\u003e\"Well, I have a movie called, 'Life Partners,' and I'm really excited about it. It's the most fun movie that I've ever worked on. It's adorable, if I do say so myself. It's about two girlfriends, one is kind of a slacker (points to herself) and one has got her life together. And I've just kind of been kicked in the butt to try to get my life together because she's getting married and being a grown-up.\"\u003cbr/\u003e(Reporter: \"Quite a year for you, you just got married. What's the experience of all these things happening together?\")\u003cbr/\u003eLeighton Meester: \"Life is good. Life is great.\"\u003cbr/\u003e16. Wide of camera crews, pan to stars posing\u003cbr/\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='action-container flex justify-between'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' aria-label='Read more description' class='rp-full-description' type='button'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fai fa-solid fa-align-left'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cspan id='read_more'\u003eRead More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-report'\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='resource-details-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='resource-details-heading'\u003eResource Details\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-resource-details clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eCurator Rating\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan class=\"star-rating\" aria-label=\"3.5 out of 5 stars\" role=\"img\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star-half-stroke text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-regular fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt class=\"educator-rating-title\"\u003eEducator Rating\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"educator-rating-details\" data-path=\"/educator_ratings/rrp_data?resourceable_id=345641\u0026amp;resourceable_type=Boclips%3A%3AVideoMetadata\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"not-yet-rated\"\u003eNot yet Rated\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eGrade\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd title=\"Grade\"\u003eHigher Ed\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eSubjects\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;search_tab_id=1\u0026amp;subject_ids%5B%5D=1216220\"\u003eAll Subjects\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eMedia Type\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;search_tab_id=2\u0026amp;type_ids%5B%5D=4543650\"\u003eNews Clips\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eSource:\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eDate\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e2014\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-solid fa-language'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eAudiences\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?audience_ids%5B%5D=371079\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;search_tab_id=1\"\u003eFor Teacher Use\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\u003cdd class=\"text-muted\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-lock mr5\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e2 more...\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='concepts-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='concepts-heading'\u003eConcepts\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='details-list concepts' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator' data-type='concepts'\u003enorth america, film, matter, new york, entertainment, john steinbeck, night, time, performing arts\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='concepts-toggle-buttons' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' class='more btn-link' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-down ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='true' class='less btn-link' style='display: none;' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow Less\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-up ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='additional-tags-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='additional-tags-heading'\u003eAdditional Tags\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='details-list keyterms' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator' data-type='keyterms'\u003emade, life, arts and entertainment, feel, movie, expect, girl, anna shapiro, celebrity, movie premieres, ways, theater, kicked, james franco, married, kind, chris o\u0026#39;dowd, excited, leighton meester, people, experience, movies, united states\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='keyterms-toggle-buttons' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' class='more btn-link' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-down ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='true' class='less btn-link' style='display: none;' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow Less\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-up ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='educator-ratings-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title sr-only' id='educator-ratings-heading'\u003eEducator Ratings\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"educator-ratings-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"all-educator-ratings-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"educator-rating-form-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-resource'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Show resource details' class='rp-show-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fai fa-solid fa-align-left'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nShow resource details\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Video player' class='player' id='player-wrapper' role='region'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='relative container mx-auto' id='lp-boclips-visitor-thumbnail'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"block\" data-html=\"true\" data-placement=\"bottom\" data-trigger=\"click\" data-content=\"\u003cdiv class=\u0026quot;text-center py-2\u0026quot;\u003e\u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/auth/users/sign_in\u0026quot;\u003eSign in\u003c/a\u003e or \u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold text-danger\u0026quot; data-posthog-event=\u0026quot;Signup: LP Signup Activity\u0026quot; data-posthog-location=\u0026quot;body_link_boclips\u0026quot; data-remote=\u0026quot;true\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/subscription/new\u0026quot;\u003eJoin Now\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\" data-title=\"Get Full Access\" data-container=\"body\" rel=\"popover\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Play video: James Franco premieres \u0026#39;Of Mice and Men\u0026#39; in New York\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cimg class=\"resource-img img-thumbnail img-responsive z-10 lp-boclips-thumbnail w-full h-full lozad\" alt=\"James Franco premieres \u0026#39;Of Mice and Men\u0026#39; in New York\" title=\"James Franco premieres \u0026#39;Of Mice and Men\u0026#39; in New York\" onError=\"handleImageNotLoadedError(this)\" data-default-image=\"https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/missing.png\" data-src=\"https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/missing.png\" width=\"315\" height=\"220\" src=\"data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs\" /\u003e\n\u003cspan aria-hidden='true' class='flex justify-center items-center bg-white rounded-full w-16 h-16 absolute top-1/2 left-1/2 -mt-8 -ml-8 cursor-pointer z-0 border-2 border-primary drop-shadow-md lp-boclips-thumbnail-playBtn'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fa-solid fa-play text-primary text-3xl ml-1 drop-shadow-xl'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n"}